This is it. Big day for Ben.445Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0CqkcYihed
I couldn't say everything went smoothly. When he first told Mama what was troubling him, the woman literally broke down. I've lost count of the times her dreaded slipper left marks on his body except for the eyes. What I only remembered were the number of days she deemed him non-existent and the times that her treatment tortured him.445Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBRpLIlXviX
But gladly, he made it out in one piece. After five days of silent treatment and a heart-to-heart talk, Mama finally gave him her blessing and all the manna our family could afford.445Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUtfWbEGqu3
Which is why on the day of his wedding, the other Opiana boys prepared the food for the feast, while I took the responsibility of making sure that the hair, makeup, and gown of the lucky bride, Naya, looked presentable.445Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡasx8QJbto3
Before the makeup, I gathered her black, wavy hair in an updo and adorned it with a do-it-yourself headpiece made of fresh jasmine flowers before proceeding to the makeup. It took me late nights to study the looks of Yamada Yu, Song Hye-kyo, and the Squid Game hottie, to see what would perfectly match her skin tone. After fifteen minutes, I achieved the desired look and smiled in satisfaction. I double-checked the details of her wedding dress and nodded to myself, seeing that nothing went wrong.445Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmZwWWosKpX
"Alright. You're all set," I said, watching the bride admire herself in the mirror. "Ben's eyes will never leave you now."445Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGJhxRcHnzM
She faced me with an undeniable gleam in her eyes.445Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUyVmePSqf1
"Thank you so much, Judy," she said, taking my hands. "You saved our lives, you and your family."445Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡauh3lc88g9
I smiled at her remark and replaced my hands with a bouquet of white calla lilies. But something popped into my mind that I couldn't bask in the glory for a long time.445Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJRqJrINozi
"Um, Naya, is it okay for me to leave? I have something important to do," I said.445Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡK02rJrUh1w
"Sure."445Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOJTJvme3LW
I rushed to the room where Ben was grooming up to check how he was doing. The door was left ajar, so I could see his twin Dan fixing his suit, and in a way, trying to keep him from getting cold feet. I smiled. Despite looking literally different, these boys stuck together like glue from the day they were born.
Knowing that Ben didn't need my presence anymore, I found myself ambling toward a wide, makeshift hall where the rest of the boys were preparing food. Most of them were naked from the waist up, wearing only knee-length shorts or worn-out denim pants. My eyes widened in amazement as their broad shoulders bore a large, bound hog, as their strong hands stuffed a bamboo stick inside the beast's mouth, and as their muscled fingers drew out its blood without breaking a sweat.445Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCNB4TkyrOq
My lips pursed, picturing how it felt to be one of them. But mama strictly confined me to the fabrics of this knee-length Sunday dress. The itch crept quickly throughout my body that I wanted to wriggle out of the stupid clothing at the soonest time possible.445Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡG6qp2YqRRH
I snapped out of the thought when Lev, one of my elder brothers, called out.445Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnrsbGVKJoW
"Are you lost, baby girl?" he asked. "You're supposed to be with the bride, right?"445Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡn09NiuNEeq
I controlled the urge to attack him at his downright insult.445Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2PfrzBejSt
"I am done," I replied. "I'm here if you need help."445Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnGiuPeQaJQ
He scoffed, waving his hand dismissively. "What do you know about roasting a pig? You're not needed here. Go back to Naya, where your service is more useful."445Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOE41y9Nc1I
A chorus of mocking laughter echoed along the seven pillars of the mess hall. My chest pounded with a fit of anger I could not get rid of. Who on earth would want to be in my position right now?445Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ96uOjaE4YF
The only one who did not join the "fun" was Joe, whose words stopped the boys from barking. His fingers curled like an eagle's claws on Lev's shoulder, causing the latter to tremble like a rat.445Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1C59X9MkxS
"Even small ants can carry a big worm," Joe told the younger man. "Let him help."445Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVvzZ6s7Qgs
"S-sure, man," Lev stammered and quickly returned to his task.445Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUquwSlRUHV
Joe walked over to me and handed me a wallet thick with bills.445Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡx4Q5Yru3p5
"We're out of liver spread," he told me. "Hurry up and buy some."445Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡr7OwIc9YJm
I nodded. "Okay... How many?"445Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡv4LseHu4QI
"As many as it can cover," he answered. Then he added swiftly, "Ram."445Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡw1RmDBvtWG
Oh. Brand-specific.445Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡluTWRLTGoo
"Eh... What if there's no Ram?"445Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhaOFZEz3El
His brow arched.445Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrwekivc0Wt
"No Ram, no caldereta. Now go."445Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDrJfo56lo3
I shivered. "Ah... Yes, sir!"445Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAaLT1rgRYv
That and I hurried to the market to look for a liver spread named Ram before he thinks of slamming my face on the scorching cauldron of boiled rice.
Luckily, we have finished the food preparation early, so we were able to attend our second brother's wedding. The monoblock chairs in the church have been filled with relatives from both sides, so the need to accommodate all the guests made us boys and 'girl' stand before the windows like a firing squad. Mama who was sitting beside Dan dried her tears from time to time with her handkerchief. So did the mother of Naya who sought comfort in the arm of her husband.445Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡoh6CLoqM7Y
"Do you, Benjamin Opiana, take Naomi Dela Cruz as your lawfully wedded wife, for better or for worse, in sickness and in health, till death do you part?" The pastor asked monotonously.445Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtZ7jwUUzEk
"I do," my brother answered, his eyes beaming, and a genuine smile plastered in his face.445Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9KP72OAD3j
The pastor turned to our new sister-in-law.445Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhzj1NKRyNp
"Do you, Naomi Dela Cruz, take Benjamin Opiana as your lawfully wedded husband, for better or for worse, in sickness and in health, till death do you part?"445Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡScpbWrSINv
Naya wiped the tears from her cheeks. Good thing I applied a waterproof sprayer on her face. If not, I'd be in danger of facing mama's dreaded slipper for creating a bridezilla.445Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgnDIAnYyHE
"I do," she answered.445Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFS6ifhOHgK
When the pastor signaled the couple to seal the deal, Ben's hands raised the white veil and caught his wife's mouth in a passionate kiss. A huge round of applause drowned the silence of the small church.445Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwyWlmSUn1i
I looked at Joe, who was clapping without a word beside me. His eyes glued at the direction of Ben's bride.445Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqT6wAlGuVN
"Kuya," I called. "You kept looking at ate Naya. Don’t tell me she caught your attention too."445Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTpM3UYZTPf
His brows furrowed. "No, but her headpiece did."445Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuZBjFT7eiL
I turned my eyes upon Naya's direction to see what he was talking about, and to my horror, the headpiece was not properly arranged! I wished I could dash to the altar and fix her hair without making a complete fool of myself. Hopefully, mama did not notice.445Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSamxf7C4IK
For a man nearing his prime, Joe surprisingly had a pair of sharp eyes. I tried changing the subject to hide my cringe.445Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqWrwiKXYYM
"What about you, Joe, when will you set the long table?" I asked.445Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfPHWT2isJ3
Without moving his head, he shot me a deadly glare, and in an emotionless face, he replied, "If it happens."445Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡljkJdiHNJV
His eyes went back to the happily married couple swarmed by relatives who were dying to take a picture.445Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYbUext34fb
My arms crossed. "Come on, man. In four years, you'll be growing gray hair. Besides, should've you been the first one to settle down?"445Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJFPzcQCrfo
A part of his upper lip arched in what looked like disgust, and his hands rested on his waist.445Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKaX7jPOeap
"If I did, who will provide for you? Mama?" His head shook disbelievingly. "Shame."445Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmMEir6bbsa
Here we go again. Why did he have to hit a nerve at every conversation? I stopped answering, knowing I would never stand a chance against his cold, calculated words. But he wouldn't let me off that easily.445Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8rYWVxPz6Y
"I saw you eyeing one of the bridesmaids earlier," he said.445Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnaSiChID1z
Fine. But what can I do? I'm a hot-blooded young man coming of age, and that young lady at the line of the bridesmaids happened to drop my jaw in her simple attire and no-makeup look. But...445Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEiEzq2P57b
"No, I didn't." I denied, shaking my head like a dog out of water.445Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtOjHx0QHfL
"You did, you liar," he insisted.445Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzJo5AyAuU0
One of my eyebrows rose, mimicking him. “So?”445Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsETsh3GMkJ
"Why don't you ask her out?” he asked. “Looks like you’re the one itching to marry anyway."445Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrj0wbtjfSX
My hands went down to my sides, fingers curling into fists in controlled annoyance. If only we were not in a church, I swear to God, one of these fists would fly straight to his jaw.445Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkGwfyhE3Y2
